10 THE BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 



3. — The Fieldfare (Tardus pilaris). Abundant every winter. Tliey 

 begin to arrive aljout tlie tliird week in October, from the loth 

 to the 25th, thouj^h I have known tlieni to be as hite as the first 

 week in November. There is not one of our migi-auts, either 

 summer or winter, whicli makes so lonj^ a visit as these birds : 

 it is no uncommon thing to see them on their return journey 

 as late as the end of April, or even in May. In 1877 I saw field- 

 fares for the last time on 10th May, and Mr. H. Davenport tells 

 me that in 1879 he noticed a small party of them on May I'ith. 



4. — Tlie Redwing f 7'Hr</?/.s- iliaciis). The same remark will apply to 

 this bird as to the Fieldfare. They arrive about the same date, 

 but take their departure somewhat earlier. I have never seen 

 Redwings later than the third week in April. 



5.— The Grey Wagtail (MotaciUa hoaruUi). My friend. Rev. A. 

 Matthews, has seen this bird on many occasions. I have not 

 myself been so fortunate as to secure frequent notes of it, but 

 I have no doubt if carefully looked for, it would be found every 

 winter. Potter also mentions it as frequenting Charnwood Forest. 



6. — The Snow Bunting, (Flectrophanes nivalis. ) Although by no means 

 uncommon on some parts of our coast, this bird is a vara avis in 

 Leicestershire. I have two notes of its occurrence. One was 

 killed at Laughton some years ago, and is now in the collection 

 of the Rev. A. Matthews. In February last, diiring severe 

 frost, four were shot out of a flock of about thirty, at Burton 

 Overy. These also have been preserved by a local taxidermist. 



7. — The Mountain Finch (Friiu/illa viontifriiifiilla. ) It is not every 

 winter that the Brambling is seen so far south as this. The 

 harder the weather the more likely are j'ou to see them, and 

 in a very mild, open winter they may not appear at all. They 

 are always found in small parties, never solitary. 



8. — The Gray Phalarope (Plialaropiis lobatus.) I have only one record. 

 One was killed at Foxton, in the winter of 1860-1, and is now 

 in the possession of the Rev. A. Matthews. 



9. — -The Woodcock (Scolupax rusticola). Although it is now a well- 

 known fact that the Woodcock breeds regularly in many parts 

 of England, it would be out of place in any other list than 

 that of the winter migi'ants. The dearth of woodland in this 

 part of Leicestershire renders them very scarce ; but a few are 

 met with every winter. A nest was found in Owston Wood a few 

 years ago, and they have been known to breed in Charnwood 

 Forest. 



10. — The Great Snipe [Scolopax major). Four occuri'ences of this 

 bird in Leicestershire have come to my knowledge. One was 

 killed near Lutterworth some years ago by Mr. Sansome, of 

 that town, and is now in his possession. Another was obtained 

 at Noseley a few years since. A third was killed in 1879 near 

 Smeeton, by Mr. Elliott, and was eaten by him ; and the fourth 

 was picked up dead last winter at Billesdon, and has been 

 preserved. This last bird appeared to have died from want, as 

 it was quite uninjured. 



11. — The Common Snipe (Scolopax iiallinario.) Before this county 

 was so largely drained Snipe used to be fairly abundant (I 

 have killed fifty couple in a winter) ; but they are decreasing 

 every year. Still, our brooks and reservoir afford us a few 

 every year. 



